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(Model.)

T.V H. BALL;

, l :NURSING CORSET. Y No..260,926. PatentedV July 11, 1882.

1:11 ven?I o7l NA PETERS. Pvmo-Limumphor, wnhingxon. 0.@

'A vr# 1 ICI UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. BALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BALL, PRENZ- LAUER & CO., OF SAME PLACE.

NURSING-CORSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,926, dated July l1, 1882. Application tiled January 26, 1882. (Model.)

To altwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city ot' Chicago, in the county ot' Cook, in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nursing-Corsets, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a nursingcorset provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ot' the front part of the same. Fig. 3 is a detailed front elevation of the improved breast-pocket with the adjoining part of the husk-piece. Fig. 4 is a detailed front elevation of the sam'e with the several layers of which the sections are composed separated. Fig. 5 is a detailed view of one lower section of the breast-pocket with part of the corresponding flap.

The same letters denote the same parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to that class of corsets which are specially adapted to the support of thebrastduringlactation; anditcon sists,rst, in a breast-pocket having in its lower middle part a curvature distinct from that of the corset-body, forthe purpose of giving a horizontal support to the breast; second, in a breastpocket composed in its upper part of overlapping flaps arranged to turn down against the lower part; and, third, in abreast-pocket having its lower part adapted to give a horizontal support to the breast, and provided with straps attached to its sides for supporting this lower part from the shoulder.

It consists, further, in the particular devices and combinations of devices which will be fully set forth hereinafter, and definitely pointed out in the claims, the object of the whole being to give a more perfect, comfortable, convenient, and economically-collstructed support to the nursing-breast than is furnished by any corset now in use.

In the drawings, A denotes each of two distinct sections, which constitute the lower half of the breast-pocket. Each of these, when in place, is in form a spherical triangle, the pattern when laid at, as shown in Fig. 5, having the side a, which is to adjoin the body of 5o the corset, and the side a', which is to adjoin the other section A, both curved, the curve shown in the drawings being a circular are, though the precise direction ot' the curve might be somewhat varied without materially affecting the essence of the invention. The upper side a2 of the pattern maybe straight, as it will bend into the requisite curve when the other two sides are attached in place. The two sections A being joined together on their sides a', and to the husk-section B and side section, C, respectively, of the front part ot' the corsetbody on their sides a., they will together form a spherical,or nearly SphericaLSegment, making an angle with the corset-body and constituting a distinct pouch capable of holding up the breast and permittingit to retain its natural shape. In the usual form of corset, on the other hand, the breast-pocket curve is continuous with that ofthe corset-body, though of a somewhat increased curvature, and its natural Aa strap, D, which should be long enough not tointerfere with the breast of the wearer. The points ot' attachment may be slightly varied ywithout changing the effect, provided they are so arranged as to support the entire lower division of the breast-pocket without pressing on the breast To the middle of this strap is attached another strap, E, long enough to pass over the shoulder land be attached to the back of the corset. length to suit the wearer by means of the eye- .lets e at several points of its length, and the hook d on the strap D, or by other equivalent means. By these straps the lower part of the breast-pocket, and so, of course, the breast of the wearer, are supported from the shoulder.

This strap may be adjusted in The length of the sides a of the sections A is so proportioned that when they are joined the upper margin a2 will be below the nipple of the wearer. The corset thus does not in the least interfere with the nursing of the child.

By supporting the breast-pocket from the shoulder I am also enabled to dispense in this part with whalebone or like material, which in ordinary corsets is necessary to maintain the shape of the breast-pocket under the weight of the breast. I thus promote at once economy in making and comfort in wearing.

I have thusfar described thelower part of the breast-pocket. The upper part I form of two sections, F and G, the latter similar in general form to the lower sections, A, and each joined to one of the lower sections on its straight side fand g. The two curved sides ofeach section are free, so that both the upper sections can be completely turned down for the purpose of nursing a child. The form of the upper section F is modified, so that its straight side f, instead of meeting the side f', which adjoins the section G, intersects another and shorter straight side, f 2, which itself intersects the side j" and adjoins the upper side ct of that lower section to which the section G is attached. The section F is thus a four-sided figure, one side being much shorter than the others. sult of this is that the two sections F and G overlap. By putting a hook, H, on the side f andeyes J at two or more points on the upper The remargin of the section G, or by other equivalent fastenings, the cavity which the two sections form may be made larger or smaller, so 3 5 as to iit the breast.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a corset, a breast-pocket having near its middle part a curvature distinct from that 4o of the corset-body, and adapted to render a horizontal support to the breast, substantially as described.

2. In a corset, a breast-pocket having near its middle part a curvature distinct from that 4 5 of the corset-body, and nearly horizontal in direction, in combination with supporting-straps attached at or near its sides, and connecting it over the shoulder with the back of the corset, substantiall y as and for the purpose described.

3. In a corset, a breastpocket consisting of a-lower part adapted to support the breast, and an upper part composed ofilaps F and G of generally triangular form, and each having two free sides, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The lower part of the breast-pocket, composed ofthe spherically-triangular sections A, substantially as and for the purpose described.

THOMAS H. BALL.

Witnesses:

Gno. R. GUTLER, THOMAS H. P'EAsE. 

